§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted prisoners are housed in cells designed for two people but housing in excess of that number. [69462]
§ Mr. George HowarthNo centrally held data are available on the number of convicted prisoners housed in cells designed for two people but housing in excess of that number. This information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
The Prison Service does record the numbers of prisoners housed in cells designed for single occupancy but housing two prisoners. Separate figures for convicted or unconvicted prisoners are not available. The average number of prisoners held two to a cell designed for one for the 1998–99 year to December is 12,080. No prisoners have been held three to a cell designed for one since March 1994.